Non-specific Urethritis Syndrome: A Clinical Puzzle

[Probe, (1984): (XXIII), 2, 87-89]
Non-specific Urethritis Syndrome: A Clinical Puzzle
Tripathi, K., Srivastava, P.K., Singh, R.G., Jai Prakash and Jawad Ahmad
Division of Nephrology, University Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
INTRODUCTION
Non-specific urethritis is an abacterial cystitis seen in females and young male patients, who often
fail to demonstrate other associated urinary abnormalities by conventional investigative set-up.
Repeated long-term use of antibiotics does not improve the condition and nephrotoxic antibiotics
like tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, cephaloridine and long-acting sulphas if used for a prolonged
period, may further deteriorate the renal function. An indigenous drug Cystone has been used in this
study in such patients and found satisfactory as a urinary analgesic and antispasmodic without toxic
symptoms.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Twenty five selected patients attending the out-patient department of Division of Nephrology
between 1980-83 form the subject matter of the present study. All the patients were initially
screened for the presence of secondary organisms by repeated cultures, usually 3 times, after
stopping antibiotics for 1 week. The urine culture was evaluated for aerobic, non-aerobic as well as
fungus and in case of males, prostatic fluid for the purpose of culture. All the urine samples were
also subjected to acid-fast bacilli culture for 8-week evaluation. Those who did not grow any
organism with persistent dysuria, frequency and burning syndrome were included for the study. All
the 10 male patients were previously treated for chronic prostatitis with metronidazole, cotrimoxazole and tetracycline combination without much relief. No placebo study was conducted.
The vaginal smears in female patients did not grow any significant colony, hence we do not
mention it as a causative or associated factor of urethritis.
Crystalluria was present in four patients of oxalate group. However, none of them had colicky pain
or anuria/oliguria syndrome.
OBSERVATIONS AND RESULS
Females out-numbered the males in the ratio 3:2. The majority of the patients belonged to the
second and third decades of life (80%). The incidence of extramarital or pre-marital relation was
obtained in 40% of the males and no such history was asked from females.
Age group
20-30
31-40
41-50
Total
Table 1: Age and sex group
Male
Female
5
8
1
6
4
1
10
15
Total
13
7
5
25
88% patients had chronicity of symptoms for more than one year. None of the patients had
significant pyuria (pus cells < 5) or nocturia.
Duration
< 1 year
1-2 years
2-3 years
Total
Table 2: Duration of symptoms
Male
Female
2
1
6
10
2
4
10
15
Total
3
16
6
25
The initial dose of Cystone was two tablets b.i.d. 32% of the patients improved within a fortnight,
whereas the remaining 68% required a prolonged therapy of one month. Almost all the patients
reduced the frequency from 4 to 2 by the end of the 4th week, when a maintenance dose of 1 tablet,
2 to 3 times a day was given for 2 months. Symptoms recurred in 24% of the patients after 3 months
and they had to be restarted on the same dose for another 2 months with improvement.
Table 3: Duration of improvement in symptoms
Duration (in week)
Male
Female
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
4
6
4
3
5
Total
10
15
Table 4: Recurrence of symptoms
Male
Female
8 weeks
–
–
10 weeks
–
–
3 months
2
6
6 months
2
3
No recurrence
6
6
Total
10
15
Total
3
4
10
8
25
Total
–
–
6
5
12
25
DISCUSSION
Urethral syndrome in abacterial cystitis may account for 27% to 41% of all cases of female dysuria
(Gallagher et al., 1965, Kraft and Stamey, 1977). Most of the time these patients do not show
presence of known aerobic or anaerobic organisms; however, a meticulous culture facility for
viruses and chlamydia may demonstrate its presence. These uncommon organisms have clinical
significance, as they are not easily amenable to antibacterial treatment (Markell et al., 1979).
This embarrassing clinical problem leads to repeated institution of antibiotics, urinary analgesics
and anti-spasmodics without much improvement. We used an indigenous preparation Cystone in
order to get rid of the persistence of these lower urinary tract problems. All these patients were
screened thoroughly before by I.V.P. and cystoscopy so that no major underlying problems
remained undetected. A frequent review of the cases showed significant improvement in their
clinical picture.
In male patients chronic prostatitis is a well documented and established factor and those drugs
which have a higher secretory property in racemose type of gland like prostate, exhibit better
results, e.g. co-trimoxazole, tetracycline and metronidazole. However, persistence of these
symptoms becomes difficult to deal with. Prostatic fluid culture for acid-fast bacilli may some times
clinch the diagnosis.
Chatterjee et al., (1982) reported that Cystone has a property of relaxing smooth muscle and a
diuretic property, which may act as an antispasmodic in chronic irritation of the urethra leading to
spasm of the external sphincter. The diuretic property may reduce the contact of organisms with the
bladder mucosa and improve the hydrokinetic natural killing property of commensal bacteria, which
become opportunistic during convalescence. There have been other reports on Cystone and its use
in various renal disorders (Sharma et al., 1983); however its exact scientific role is yet to be
evaluated. In our patients the average improvement of symptoms was noticed after 3 weeks of
therapy, but recurrence of symptoms occurred in 13 patients after 3-6 months. Therefore its role as
placebo needs also further evaluation. However, Cystone may be used as an urinary analgesic in
such patients where assessment of the exact aetiology of non-specific urethritis has been a failure
with conventional methods and repeated use of antibiotics has become ineffective.
SUMMARY
1.
Non-specific urethritis is a syndrome due to abacterial cystitis of obscure origin often
associated with viruses, chlamydia and L-form protoplast bacteria, which do not respond to
antimicrobial therapy.
2.
These patients need a joint work up with the help of a nephrologist and urologist and study of
lower urinary tract with cystoscopy, I.V.P., prostatic massage and culture for aerobic,
anaerobic, viruses, fungi and acid-fast bacilli.
3.
In those conditions where no organisms have been demonstrated patients may be kept on
Cystone for 2-3 months to allay the persistence of symptoms.
4.
In 50% of patients symptoms may tend to recur after 6 months.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are thankful to The Himalaya Drug Co. for supply of samples.
REFERENCES
1.
Chatterjee, B.N., Role of Cystone in various urinary disorders. Probe (1982): 1, 27.
2.
Maskell, R., Pead, L. and Allen, J., The puzzle of urethral syndrome, a possible answer. The
Lancet (1979): 1, 1088.
3.
Gallagher, D.J.A., Montgomery, J.Z. and North, J.D.K., Acute infection in the urinary tract
and the urethral syndrome in general practice. Brit. med. J. (1965): 1, 622.
4.
Kaft, J.K. and Staney, J.A., the natural history of symptomatic bacteriuria in women.
Medicine (Baltimore) (1977): 55, 56.
5.
Sharma, B.M., Panagariya, Ashok and Jain, Kamal, Clinical trial of Cystone in various renal
disorders. Probe (1983): 2, 113.